250 THE CREATION OF 



C. W. Gray (Vice-Chairman), expressing the anxiety felt 

 at the non-appearance of any measure for creating the new 

 Department. The Council, at meetings in June, July, and 

 November, pressed the matter, but although a Bill was intro- 

 duced just before the autumn recess, the Government found 

 themselves unable to proceed with it. They promised, how- 

 ever, that it should be one of the earliest measures in the 

 next session, and with this the Chambers had to rest content 

 for the time being, after expressing their approval of the 

 Bill. 



At the February meeting in 1889 the Council asked the 

 Prime Minister (Lord Salisbury) to receive a deputation on 

 the question, and he did so on 5th March, when he acknow- 

 ledged the unanimity with which agriculturists supported this 

 proposal, and promised to give effect to their request. A 

 Bill was shortly after introduced, and at the June meeting 

 the Council gave its unanimous approval to the measure, 

 on the understanding that it created a responsible Minister 

 sitting in the House of Commons. The Bill received the 

 Royal Assent on 12th August, and thus one more of the 

 original objects of the Chambers was accomplished. At the 

 first meeting of the Council after the establishment of the 

 Board of Agriculture, the congratulations of the Chambers of 

 Agriculture were formally tendered to Mr. Henry Chaplin 

 on his appointment as its first President. It was felt to be 

 a subject for special congratulation that an ex-Chairman of 

 the Central Chamber, and one who had taken such an active 

 part in the work of the Chambers for so many years should 

 have been selected. 



In January, 1908, the Council passed a resolution in favour 

 of an amendment to the Address being moved, urging that 

 the Board of Agriculture should be made a first class Depart- 

 ment. On 6th February Sir Wm. Holland moved an amend- 

 ment urging that the status of the Board of Trade should be 

 raised, and to this an amendment was moved by Mr. E. B. 

 Barnard proposing that the Board of Agriculture should be 

 similarly treated. On the Chancellor of the Exchequer 

 promising that the matter should form the subject of a 





